G House

Project Description

G House is located in a suburban residential area built from 1920 to 1940 near the vibrant Corydon village at the heart of Winnipeg. This house was conceived as a suburban oasis, accommodating a very private lifestyle, while facilitating entertainment and social gatherings. The residence reverses traditional concepts of house and yard within a typical single-family detached suburban neighbourhood, by placing the house at the edge of the site rather than at its centre and framing the rest of the site with an eight-foot-high Tyndall stone wall to create a courtyard. The courtyard becomes the central focus, a sunlit extension of the home’s living space with a hard surface and lush vegetation. Local wood and Tyndall stone finishing materials were specifically chosen in order to integrate this stylistically modern and minimalist structure with the older homes that have been built with similar materials.
The details of the house are in a minimalist modern style, reflecting the designer’s concern for the effective use of materials and interest in exploring current technological advancements. The house expresses current industrialisation through the exposure of raw components such as hollowcore concrete, steel columns and beams, glass rails, floor-to-ceiling windows, and various fixings. Wood was strategically used throughout the residence to bring a sense of warmth to the home. Prodema panelling is used as an interior and exterior wall finish.  This reinforces the relationship between interior and exterior spaces. The roof features exposed glue-laminated beams on steel columns.  The beams are solid where they support a rooftop hot tub, conveying a sense of permanence.  Wood and steel plates combine to create the cantilevered structure of the glass stairway at the east side of the home.
Masonry was selected for its aesthetic properties and durability. A chiselled finish was specifically requested for the Tyndall stone, which proved to be consistent with the raw aspect of the home. The resulting finish is a beautiful texture of circular indentations, which appears to change the texture and appearance of the stone as the angle of sunlight changes throughout the day.